A WOMAN living on the slopes of British Camp is calling for action to prevent sheep straying on to the A449 Malvern to Ledbury road.

Helen Turner, whose home is beside the road above Chance's Pitch, fears there will be an accident unless steps are taken to control livestock. She said: "Since the sheep were introduced to the hills they have been gaining access to the main road.

"The A449 is a series of blind bends at this point and I'm very worried that an accident is going to happen. I, myself, have had to slam on the brakes because there were some lambs in the road."

Ms Turner said one solution would be to put a cattle grid at the mouth of a track which leads off the main road, as sheep sometimes wander from the track on to the road.

Sheep grazing on British Camp was re-introduced by Malvern Hills Conservators more than a year ago, to help control the growth of scrub and trees.

Conservators director Ian Rowat said: "We have a shepherd to look after the flock but sometimes they stray if he has a day off or if they are chased by a dog.

"We're aware of the problem of sheep getting on the road but it's been a problem since time immemorial."

Mr Rowat said the Conservators had applied for a Lottery grant to help fund cattle grids and were also looking at the possibility of installing small sections of fencing in strategic places.

"It'll be difficult because of the Malvern Hills Acts but I will be talking to Herefordshire's highways department about it," he said. "We would not be denying people access to the hills at all."